The intellectual environment

During the 1930s, John Ryle's philosophy of ‘social medicine’ was developed. Its central tenet was that illness should be studied in relation to the patient's occupational and social environment. These beliefs were held by Fraser Brockington, who became the Manchester professor of social and preventive medicine, and by Robert Platt, the professor of medicine. A social medicine ‘laboratory’ was required and the then Vice-Chancellor, John Stopford, set about finding one. A suitable building for an experimental health centre was found close to the university.

Darbishire House

Stopford secured grants from the Rockefeller and Nuffield foundations to buy Darbishire House for £17,500 in 1950. All that was needed was some general practitioners to bring their practices into it. The local general practitioners worked single-handed and, with a declining population, were in fierce competition with each other for patients. However, after many meetings, Drs Ashworth, Goldie, Lenten and Davies agreed to move in, reassured by the financial arrangements offered and places on the management committee. Darbishire House Health Centre, with its own laboratory and X-ray facilities, opened in 1954. To facilitate research Bob Logan was appointed reader to liaise between the practice and the department of social and preventive medicine.